Analysis of how Dani Olmo will fit into the Barcelona squad, realistic expectations and criticism of the transfer

 

Barcelona have just signed one of the most talented players on the transfer market and one of the standout performers at Euro 2024, but their move has been harshly criticized by even their own fans.

Dani Olmo is set to join Barcelona from RB Leipzig for a fee of €60m after weeks of negotiations, with his signing coming after failed pursuit of Athletic Club star Nico Williams, who has been Was one of the best wingers in La Liga for two seasons.

Williams has played a bigger role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory and is regarded as a dream signing for Barcelona by Barcelona star and international teammate Lamine Yamal; the pair form an unstoppable winger this summer partner.

Olmo may face the task of becoming Barcelona’s next starting left wing, forming a trident with the aging Robert Lewandowski and the emerging Yamal, who may be possible after representing Spain at the European Championships. Become the new face of La Liga.

Let’s take a closer look at what Olmo brings to Barcelona and delve into why the 26-year-old RB Leipzig star is viewed by many fans as an unnecessary expense rather than being seen as a very talented addition to the attack Players For Barcelona, ​​they lost out on the title once again to rivals Real Madrid.

Best location in Omo

Although Dani Olmo has been rumored to be available to play on the left wing for Barcelona – as it’s by far their biggest need in attack – he didn’t actually feature on the left wing for RB Leipzig last season Starter.

Part of this is due to Leipzig’s very narrow formation as they have so much attacking midfield and forward talent, with the width coming from the full-backs/wide midfielders, but part of it should be that Olmo isn’t really suited as a left-winger.

Olmo is a playmaker. This is what he does on the football field. His best role is anywhere between midfield and forward, linking the chaos in the middle of the pitch to where all the action happens.

Last season, Olmo started 21 times as an attacking midfielder, including 18 starts, including 1 start as a central midfielder, 1 start as a center forward, and even 1 start as a right midfielder.

Olmo just doesn’t have the energy to play on the wing. He can’t beat the world’s best full-backs one-on-one in the Champions League, and you can easily imagine Dani Carvajal looking after Olmo on the wing in El Clasico.

There will be people drawing diagrams on screenshots to try and sell you the merits of Olmo playing on the left wing, but at an elite club like Barcelona, ​​this position demands the highest quality.

Look at the left wingers in La Liga. There was Savio last season and now Kylian Mbappe has joined Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid, while Nico Willems is still at Athletic Club after Barcelona eliminated him.

Compare Willems on the wing or Serie A targets Rafael Leao and Hvitsa Kvaratschlija to Olmo and you’ll see a huge difference in playing style. These two average more dribbles per game and are better at creating their own transition opportunities out of nothing due to their speed and explosiveness.

If Barcelona are willing to pay more than €50 million for a player, they need to use him in his best position. Olmo has never averaged two dribbles per game in a season, which is the bare minimum for a top winger at a club with Champions League aspirations.

The right wing is manned by Lamine Yamal, so other than his best position as a number 10 or using Olmo as a left winger, the only other options are to use him as a traditional midfielder .

While Olmo is willing to defend from the front as an attacking midfielder, he does not have the strength or training to play as a covering midfielder in a defensive midfield role behind an attacking midfielder.

Olmo averaged 1.2 steals per game last season but averaged just 0.6 interceptions per game, numbers that were career highs for a full season.

He was ranked tenth. Given the standards set by competing with Real Madrid and the price tag involved, playing him outside of that range could spell disaster for Barca.